28/01/2017 - THREATENED FOR DOING GOOD

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So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. Acts 4.21

We do not always receive praise for doing good; sometimes the reward is persecution. However, we should never fear it. Though our structure is fragile, God allows us to be in such a way so that we may be at His feet and receive His strength. Thus, we will not walk astray or fall in sin; but if we are not at His feet we will experience spiritual death and eternal separation from Him.

The apostles were threatened because they spoke of the powerful Word of God. They did not care about it, because they were obeying God’s orders, so they would suffer no harm. As servants of the Most High, we must also obey what our good Shepherd says. The fearful should pray to be strengthened, in order not to let the devil work in their lives. 

The priests did not know what to do with those men. When they received an answer from the Apostles, reaffirming their faith in Christ, their hearts were shaken. It does not matter who we are preaching to; if we have the Lord’s anointing, He will use us, will lead us to where He has planned and will go ahead of us to open the doors. The doors that He opens will never be closed, and the ones that He closes will never be opened. 

The Jewish authorities did not bow before the Most High and continued in their blindness, even though they could sense that those men had supernatural powers that came from God. Unfortunately, this happens to many people who do not listen or see what God does, but close themselves. In many cases, these people won’t have another opportunity. Poor religious people!

There was no reason to punish them, so they were set free. Who can find a reason to rebuke those who are serving God, in an irreproachable way? When the Holy Spirit guides a person in the Way, this person’s attitudes improve. Now, those who are guided by God are His children; so to be guided by the Lord should be everyone’s goal. 

The decision of letting the disciples go because of the people showed that those religious men were completely wrong. Instead of fearing God, they feared the people. This has happened all around the world. Jesus’ servants are persecuted for futile reasons, and sometimes even shady and criminal reasons. In the Day of Judgment, many people will get desperate, because they had the opportunity but refused to be saved.

The apostles preached a message that filled the people with hope and faith. Through the miracles that they did, many people were healed and changed their way of living, converting to Jesus and doing the divine will. This certainly annoyed the devil.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares